Friday, September 9, 2011

Retro: Kimmer

Retro: Kimmer

Link to Retro: Kimmer

RETRO KIMMER VIDEOS SUMMER 2011

Posted: 09 Sep 2011 07:05 PM PDT


Rikki St James and Kimmer




Kimmer with Julian and Annalisa Pavone

Link

Kimmer and Scott Morgan

Scott Morgan/Rationals "Listen To Me"




Lesley and NiNeS drummer Greg....

ThE NiNeS Live in Ypsilanti!




Dick Wagner Frost Rock n Roll Music




Deniz Tek Tribute

[New post] Doctor Who - Shada finally complete... kinda

Doctor Who - Shada finally complete... kinda

dailypop | September 9, 2011 at 6:31 pm | Tags: doctor who, douglas adams, shada, Tom Baker | Categories: Doctor Who- 4th Doctor | URL: http://wp.me/p4kUt-33N

Lalla Ward and Tom Baker compare notes in Cambridge, filming Shada

Back when I was first getting into Doctor Who, my best mate was indoctrinating me in all the minutiae to get me up to speed for the new series coming up on the local PBS station. Books were piled up around me and weekday nights were spent trying to decipher what I was watching. In the midst of all this, Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was airing on the radio and I loved it. I learned that Adams wrote possibly the greatest ever Doctor Who, but I'd never see it. I was told in grave tones the sad details of story 109, Story Code: 5M... Shada.

At the time there wasn't much to tell, honestly. Details were vague at best and involved invisible spaceships and references to Gallifreyan lore. Intended as the finale to the program's 17th series, Shada was intended to be a wild ride of an adventure, combining absurd humor, breakneck action and weird science. Sadly, only parts of it were actually filmed, due to industrial action at the BBC (the more I looked into that story the weirder things got. All I'm saying is that it came down to a toy clock on a children's program that ceased all production).

In 1992, I purchased a copy of the VHS tape consisting of all the filmed material, some new special effects and music with the missing parts narrated by Tom Baker at his maddest. It was a challenging ordeal to watch the program and I exited the experience still unsure of what to make of Shada. Later still, Big Finish released an audio drama version of Shada reworked by Gary Russell with Paul McGann as the Doctor. Lalla Ward and John Leeson were brought back as Romana (II) and K-9 as well. Again, this was a weird experience as so much of the humor was written for Tom Baker and even though the Eighth Doctor seemed to be channeling series 16/17 Tom Baker in some ways, it felt awkward. It's still worth checking out and is lots of fun... but it seems 'off' somehow.

Finally, Shada will be released in its entirety... kinda.

Ian Levine  "Shada" is COMPLETELY finished now. All six episodes. For the first time in 32 years. And although I might be biased, it looks BEAUTIFUL.

Confused? Here's the full story at Starburst:

Shada, the legendary, Douglas Adams-scripted 1980 Doctor Who story that was abandoned halfway through its production and never finished, has now been completed.

But there's a twist. In fact, there are two.

Given that it has been three decades since the cameras last rolled on the story, the actors involved would never have been able to convincingly play the same age, so Shada has been completed via animation, using only their voices.

The other twist is that this hasn't been paid for by the BBC, nor even their commercial arm 2|entertain (responsible for the Doctor Who DVD releases). The animation has been privately funded by record producer and fan Ian Levine, and as things stand, the wider public might never get to see it.

Which isn't Levine's intention, of course; now that Shada has been finished, he's hopeful an agreement can be reached with 2|entertain and the story released into the public domain.

... And watch this space for a report, 'Doctor Who and the Shada Man', detailing the history of the story and arguing the pros and cons of Ian Levine's efforts to complete it.

In related news, Shada will finally be novelized next March by Gareth Roberts. It seems that missing, thought lost adventure will never really be lost for Doctor Who fans.

Thanks to TardisNewsRoom for the tip.

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[New post] Doctor Who and the Android Invasion

Doctor Who and the Android Invasion

'Doctor Who and The Android Invasion'


Story 083
Transmitted 22 November - 13 December 1975
Written by Terry Nation

"This isn't Earth. This isn't real wood, it's some sort of synthetic plastic. These are not real trees... and you're not the real Sarah."


Answering a call from his friend the Brigadier, the Doctor arrives in a small English village on Earth only to find that nothing is what appears to be. The town is silent until the population are delivered like cargo by a masked men dressed in space suits. Like clockwork toys, the people come to life with the chiming of the hour and go about their lives. Suspecting that some terrible force is controlling the population, the Doctor and Sarah investigate the situation, only to come under fire from the astronauts armed with built-in handguns.

The Android Invasion is one of the few non-Dalek scripts that author Terry Nation provided for Doctor Who. The opening episode is very atmospheric and evocative of 1950's Red Scare paranoia films. The Doctor and Sarah are alone in a hostile situation where it seems that everyone is against them and the world that they thought they knew has turned upside down. The pair of travelers witness a U.N.I.T. soldier jump to his death for no apparent reason in abject horror. Something is terribly wrong, but it is unclear what has changed on Earth and how it can be halted. When it is revealed that even the Doctor's companion and friend Sarah Jane is not herself, the drama and tension gets ramped up even more.

Is it Sarah Jane Smith or a cold-blooded killer robot?

Vintage 1975 trailer
watch?v=B3EvG3yMwwE

Surviving numerous attempts on his life, the Doctor meets presumably the missing and dead astronaut Guy Crayford inside U.N.I.T. headquarters. Crayford is the only person who actually is who he appears to be, however he is in collaboration with an alien race known as the Kraal. The Kraal have developed part of an alien world into a perfect replica of the planet Earth as a training ground for their invasion of the planet using androids. It's a very clever reveal and keeps pace with the excitement throughout the first half of the story... which is where the story falls a bit flat.

The Kraals themselves are just cardboard aliens bent on world domination. It's something of a staple of Terry Nation's scripts that he builds a complex system of set pieces around a rather staid premise. In this case the robot replicas and the fake town are very interesting, but the plot itself is pretty bland. The expressionless rubber masks worn by the actors playing the Kraals doesn't help matters much nor does the fact that lead actor Tom Baker sounds as if he has lost his voice.

The Doctor (Tom Baker) is tied to a bomb

When the Doctor and Sarah manage to stow away on a space craft acting as the spearhead of the Kraal invasion, things get even worse. An android replica of the Doctor enters the mix as does a deadly virus that the Kraals plan to use as a method of wiping out the human population.

Part of Tom Baker's second year on the program, The Android Invasion's chief strengths is in the stunning location work, crisp direction by Barry Letts and of course the chemistry between Tom Baker and the late Elisabeth Sladen. The two work against each other beautifully here and present characters that the viewer is sympathetic to as they move through the mystery and avert danger at every turn. The threat level of Android Invasion is very high, as is the violence. The Doctor seems to be just inches away from death several times throughout this story.

Guest actor Milton Johns as Guy Crayford is a strong addition to the cast and lends credibility to the scenes in which he acts against the rubbery Kraals. His journey from frustrated traitor to hero is an enticing one and an impressive part of the story(something I wager Holmes had a hand in). A man who feels that the human race has abandoned, Crayford is furious with the human race as a whole. Rescued from death by the Kraals, he joins their side in assaulting his own planet, driven by anger and resentment. But when he finds that he has been misled, he shows his true heroic strength of character.

In my opinion, series 13 is one of the high points of classic Doctor Who. This was when producer Philip Hinchcliffe, script editor Robert Holmes and lead actor Tom Baker were firing on all cylinders. The program had proven in the previous year that it could survive the loss of the entire production crew and the lead actor only to reinvent itself into something very new, an amorphous program that moved from space opera (Planet of Evil) to Gothic horror (The Brain of Morbius) to pulp drama (The Android Invasion, The Seeds of Doom) each week. It is a magnificent era that shows the possibilities inherent in the program, something that the Tom Baker era in general excelled at. Just look at the Key to Time series and you'll see a wealth of innovation and variation with nary a returning monster to be seen.

According to the Doctor Who Guide, this story received a 11.68 Million average audience, making it one of the more successful stories of the season based on viewing figures alone. Against the rest of series 13, The Android Invasion doesn't stand up as well to the test of time, however. Beyond the impressive camera work and sterling direction, the story is a rather straight forward alien invasion plot, something that Doctor Who had become too sophisticated for as it strove to reach an older audience.

A commemorative fold-out poster from Dr Who Classic Comics

Nothing is what it seems...
watch?v=-eUcl7MxaS8

The Android Invasion is being released in the UK on the 10th of January as part of 'The U.N.I.T. Box' also containing the Jon Pertwee adventure Invasion of the Dinosaurs. In the US, it is being solicited in its own. While not the strongest outing of its time, Android Invasion does have some iconic moments and thrilling action sequences that make it worth a look. If nothing else, it serves as part of a time capsule when the program was redefining itself. It's also lovely to see Tom and Lis on screen together.

Pre-order Doctor Who - the Android Invasion on DVD

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Latest articles from Retro To Go

Latest articles from Retro To Go


Freckles mustard suede shoes from Office

Posted: 08 Sep 2011 10:53 AM PDT

 ShoeThere is a distinct whiff of the 40s in footwear trends this Autumn Winter and you can't get much closer to the genuine article than these Freckles mustard suede shoes from Office.

Everything about these shoes screams vintage, from the mid-heel and suede material to the bow and pointed toe, but it's the mustard colour that really makes them stand out. Pair with wide legged trousers or 40s suit for pitch perfect vintage chic.

The Freckles shoes also available in purple & black and are £62 from Office. See the website for more details.

Ferm Living Apple Printed Silk Cushion

Posted: 08 Sep 2011 09:35 AM PDT

CushionDid you pick up this delightful Ferm Living mug we featured some time ago? If so, this Apple Printed Silk Cushion might take your fancy.

Trine Andersen's Scandinavian pine tree design adorns this oversized silk scatter cushion that would be a pitch-perfect finishing touch to any retro room. The bold palate makes the striking mid-century print really stand out. A stylish and comfy place to to have a spot of tea from your matching mug.

Also available as a purple & yellow variant. £72 from the Heals website.

Vintage world atlas journal

Posted: 08 Sep 2011 09:05 AM PDT

Normal_IMG_1290

Relive your travelling  adventures with this handy vintage world atlas journal.

If you're bored at work and trying to work out where your next adventure will take you this handy journal will give you a lot of inspiration. Alternatively you could use it to keep track of your thoughts and memories. It's a great gift for someone hard to buy for and makes the ideal travel journal.

It's £20 from Not on the high street and a perfect present for a travelling addict or someone who likes to write a lot.

Rose & Bow' fabric

Posted: 08 Sep 2011 08:50 AM PDT

Rose-&-Bow-fabric

Get crafting with this beautiful rose & bow fabric.

If you've picked up on the latest craze for crafting and are churning out cushions, blankets and bunting then this fabric is needed in your life. If however you've managed to avoid this so far and don't know your bunting from your Barbour then you could always buy a metre and get someone you know to create something. The design is adapted from an Art Nouveau textil by F. Steiner & Co. from 1903.

You can buy a metre for £15 from the V&A website.

1950s Robin Day Reclining Chair reissued

Posted: 08 Sep 2011 07:30 AM PDT

Day1

Robin Day was still making cool and stylish design in the later years of his lift (check out the Avian AV1 chair for evidence of that), but his midcentury work is still the headline grabber. As this 1950s Robin Day Reclining Chair demonstrates perfectly.

Back in circulation once more, this masterpiece from 1952 is a great example of British midcentury design - form and function in perfect harmony. Day himself rated it as just about his finest work, which is saying something.

Day2

In terms of construction, the Reclining Chair has a softwood frame with foam and elasticated webbing, with fixed upholstery in a choice of fabrics or leather. Finishing things off is an adjustable head-cushion, while the frame is powder-coated steel frame and the armrest is solid oak with a satin lacquer finish.

It's a design you invest in and enjoy for many, many years. Prices start at £1,512.

Find out more at the TwentyTwentyOne website

eBay watch: A pair of midcentury sling chairs by Sergio Rodrigues

Posted: 08 Sep 2011 05:13 AM PDT

Serg

We have featured a number of reissues of the work of Sergio Rodrigues, most of them, like the Kilin chair, the Oscar chair and the Mole chair all being far from cheap. Which makes this pair of midcentury chairs by Sergio Rodrigues (if they are by him) a potential bargain.

Just like the seller, we don't know the specific name of the seats on offer here - and believe me, I've scoured the web for a copy. The seller says 1950s and that might well be the case, possibly sneaking into the 1960s. Either way, it's said to be the real deal, with the 'Made in Brazil' signature on the wood.

Aside from that, there is leather for the sling back and seat mixing it with the wooden frame. Condition is said to be 'good vintage' although the wood is also said to be able to 'use a good oil treatment'.

If in doubt about the authenticity, check with the seller for more details. If you fancy a punt, the price for the is $300 or £188.15.

Find out more at the eBay website

Classic 1970s Polaroid SX-70 instant camera returns

Posted: 08 Sep 2011 03:12 AM PDT

Pol1

Not just an old camera, this classic Polaroid SX-70 has been 'lovingly restored' for the modern market, sold in some equally stylish new packaging.

The camera is arguably the most stylish of all the Polaroids, dating back to the 1970s, but looking even earlier. It was also first SLR to feature a folding body and stll has film available to use in it - the Impossible Project make PX-100 film for it, but it doesn't come cheap. Easy enough to find though, especially online.

Pol2

You can still find them on eBay occasionally, but they're unlikely to reach you in the same state as these reissues. They'll not have the same packaging either - the flat-folding leather and chrome snapper is sold in a newly-designed Kate Bingman Burt box.

Now the bad news, the first has sold out. But on the plus side, more are arriving in October. All that renovation work doesn't come cheap though, with the Polaroid SX-70 selling for $350 online. Film extra, of course.

Find out more at the Photojojo website

'Ahoy There Sailor' Print

Posted: 08 Sep 2011 02:40 AM PDT

Normal_LARGE_AHOY2 
With austerity and etiquette often dominating retro slogan prints, the sauciness of the 'Ahoy There Sailor' Print from So True Posters makes a refreshing change.

It features the title phrase along with a glamorous retro gal, against a nautical blue and white stripe background. Prices start at £10 for an A5 unframed print, going up to £69.90 for the extra large A1 print in either a white or black frame with a range of sizes in between.

Buy the print online from Not on the High Street.

Vintage Iron and Wood Swivel Chair

Posted: 08 Sep 2011 02:13 AM PDT

Vintage-iron-and-wood-swivel-chair-6350-p 
Desk chairs can often be boring, even ugly, but that's not the case with this Vintage Iron and Wood Swivel Chair from Rockett St George.

Vintage chairs have been reinvigorated with a polish and a new set of wheels. The description doesn't say what type of wood the chair is made of, but it looks to have a rich colour that is sure to look good with any retro decor.

The chairs cost £295 each from Rockett St George.

Don't Be So Quick to Overlook the Maserati Grecale Folgore

If the GranTurismo Folgore is a guide, this Grecale Folgore could be surprisingly competitive. The EV GT was one of the year's best surp...